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English lesson plan · Kindergarten (Reception and Year 1 in England) · 30 minutes

Retell a story: first, next, last

Reading Comprehension

CCSS RL.K.2CCSS RI.K.3England: Reception Literacy (retelling)England: Y1 Reading (sequencing)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Retell a story: first, next, last.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Who, where and what happened?

Leads to: Time order words: first, next, then, finally; Story shape: beginning, middle and end

Materials: A short text or extract (one copy each), Highlighters, Question cards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Who, where and what happened?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Lia went to the beach. She dug in the sand and found a shell. Where did Lia go? (the beach / the park / school / the shop) → the beachPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.
  2. The wind blew Tom's hat into a tree. Tom began to cry. How did Tom feel? (happy / sleepy / sad / silly) → sadPrompt: What does the character say and do?
  3. Sam was sad. He could not find his teddy. Then Dad found it under the bed. Where was the teddy? (under the bed / in the garden / on the table / in the car) → under the bedPrompt: Find the part of the text that talks about this.

Hook · 3 min

  • Read the first lines of a short text aloud and ask what students predict will happen and why.
  • Share the objective: Retell a story: first, next, last. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: First, the hen sat on her eggs. Next, the eggs began to crack. Last, out came three chicks. What happened FIRST?
  • Step 1: Time words like first, next and last tell us the order.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: the hen sat on her eggs
  • Answer: the hen sat on her eggs
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Leo found a lost kitten. He took it home. Then he gave it some milk. What did Leo do first? (found a lost kitten / gave it some milk / took it home / named the kitten) → found a lost kittenPrompt: Look for the words first, next, then and last.
  2. First, Pip woke up. Next, he ate his breakfast. Last, he went to the park. What did Pip do NEXT? (woke up / ate his breakfast / went to bed / went to the park) → ate his breakfastPrompt: Look for the words first, next, then and last.

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 5 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. First, we mixed the paint. Next, we painted a rainbow. Last, we hung it up to dry. What happened LAST? (we hung it up to dry / we washed our hands / we painted a rainbow / we mixed the paint) → we hung it up to dryPrompt: Look for the words first, next, then and last.
  2. Sara dug a hole. Then she put a seed in it. Then she watered it. What did Sara do after she dug a hole? (dug another hole / picked a flower / put a seed in it / watered it) → put a seed in itPrompt: Look for the words first, next, then and last.

Watch out for

  • Answering from memory or opinion instead of evidence in the text.
  • Copying a long quote without explaining what it shows.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Who, where and what happened?.
  • Use concrete materials: a short text or extract (one copy each).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Time order words: first, next, then, finally; Story shape: beginning, middle and end.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/kindergarten.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Retell a story: first, next, last

Name

Date

Score/ 5

  1. Question 1

    First, the hen sat on her eggs. Next, the eggs began to crack. Last, out came three chicks. What happened FIRST?

    • A. out came three chicks
    • B. the hen sat on her eggs
    • C. the eggs cracked
    • D. the chicks ran away

  2. Question 2

    Sara dug a hole. Then she put a seed in it. Then she watered it. What did Sara do after she dug a hole?

    • A. picked a flower
    • B. put a seed in it
    • C. dug another hole
    • D. watered it

  3. Question 3

    The rocket counted down: three, two, one. It blasted off. Then it flew up to the moon. What happened just before the rocket blasted off?

    • A. it flew to the moon
    • B. it counted down
    • C. it landed
    • D. it fell over

  4. Question 4

    First, we mixed the paint. Next, we painted a rainbow. Last, we hung it up to dry. What happened LAST?

    • A. we washed our hands
    • B. we painted a rainbow
    • C. we mixed the paint
    • D. we hung it up to dry

  5. Question 5

    Leo found a lost kitten. He took it home. Then he gave it some milk. What did Leo do first?

    • A. took it home
    • B. gave it some milk
    • C. found a lost kitten
    • D. named the kitten

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Answer key: Retell a story: first, next, last

  1. 1. B. the hen sat on her eggs

  2. 2. B. put a seed in it

  3. 3. B. it counted down

  4. 4. D. we hung it up to dry

  5. 5. C. found a lost kitten

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